Device for administering an enema

ABSTRACT

A device for administering an enema has a bucket having a bottom, an upper wall and a connected lower wall of a smaller diameter than the upper wall. Means form an inwardly extending recess in the lower wall adjacent the bottom of the bucket and a discharge conduit is mounted in said recess extending generally tangentially to the lower wall. A flexible tube is connected to said conduit and coiled about the lower wall between the discharge conduit and the upper wall. Means releasably hold the outer end of the tube to prevent the tube from uncoiling. A substantially horizontal wall connects the upper wall and the lower wall. The buckets are stacked with the lower coil of the tube resting on the horizontal wall thus forming a compartment in each bucket for holding accessory items.

[4 1 Dec. 17,1974

1 1 DEVICE FOR ADMINISTERING AN ENEMA [75] Inventor: Robert T. Duke,Audubon, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Fibre Formations, Inc.,

Philadelphia, Pa.

22 Filed: Mar. 22, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 453,670

206/223, 503, 509, 499, 65 K; 222/143; 220/97 R, 97 C, 97 D [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,017,773 2/1912 Leach 128/2272,843,291 7/1958 Stopps 206/509 3.l00,487 8/1963 Buthish 128/2273,207,298 9/1965 Wilson.; 128/227 X 3.810,470 5/1974 Von Gunten 206/65 KFOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 447,441 1/1913 France 128/227 PrimaryExaminer-Richard A. Gaudet Attorney, Agent, or FirmSmith, Harding,Earley & Follmer [57] ABSTRACT A device for administering an enema has abucket having a bottom, an upper wall and a connected lower wall of asmaller diameter than the upper wall. Means form an inwardly extendingrecess in the lower wall adjacent the bottom of the bucket and adischarge conduit is mounted in said recess extending generallytangentially to the lower wall. A flexible tube is connected to saidconduit and coiled about the lower wall between the discharge conduitand the upper wall. Means releasably hold the outer end of the tube toprevent the tube from uncoiling. A substantially horizontal wallconnects the upper wall and the lower wall. The buckets are stacked withthe lower coil of the tube resting on the horizontal wall thus forming acompartment in each bucket for holding accessory items.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEQ'JEEIYIHH $854,479

SHEET 10F 2 38 FIG. 4.

PAIHHL- 1 71W 3.854.479 sum 2 OF 2 FIG. 5.

DEVICE FOR ADMINISTERING AN ENEMA BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Disposableenema buckets generally made of plastic are well known to the art. Suchbuckets are normally sold containing a packet of soap and a packet oflubricant and a flexible hose for attachment to a discharge conduit onthe bucket. In its stored position the flexible tube frequently getskinked in such a manner as to partially or completely block the flow ofliquid through the tube. Thus many tubes and buckets are discardedwithout having been used which results in considerable waste. Further,even when the hose is in satisfactory condition at the time the enemabucket is to be used, it is time consuming for the nurse to remove thetube and attach it to the discharge conduit. These problems are solvedby this invention by providing for the flexible tube to be attached atthe time of manufacture to the discharge conduit of the enema bucket andproviding for the storage of the tube in a manner which positivelyprevents kinking.

The device of the invention also provides for a storage compartment ineach bucket for accessory items such as packets of soap and lubricantwhen the buckets are stacked for shipment and storage to protect theaccessory items from damage.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A device for administering an enema has abucket having a bottom, an upper wall and a connected lower wall of asmaller diameter than the upper wall. Means form an inwardly extendingrecess in the lower wall adjacent the bottom of the bucket and adischarge conduit is mounted in said recess. A flexible tube isconnected to said conduit and coiled about the lower wall between thedischarge conduit and the upper wall. Means releasably hold the outerend of the tube to prevent the tube from uncoiling. When stacked, thebottom of one bucket is spaced above the bottom of the next lower bucketto provide a compartment for containing accessory items such as soap andlubricant.

Advantageously, a substantially horizontal wall connects the upper andlower walls.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevation of adevice for administering an enema in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a right side elevation of the device of FIG. 1 showing theflexible tube uncoiled and ready to use; and

FIG. 5 is a right side elevation, partially broken away, showing apackage of stacked devices of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A bucket device 2 for administering an enema has anupper wall 4 and a lower wall 6 with liquid levels being indicated inounces and milliliters by the indicia at 8. Since the entire device 2 ismade of plastic, the indicia at 8 can readily be molded into the device.Upper wall 4 and lower wall 6 both taper inwardly from top to bottom andare connected by a horizontal wall 12. Lower wall 6 is integral with abottom 14, the upper surface of which slopes gently in the direction ofa small sump 16 to provide for complete drainage of the enema solution.

Lower wall 6 has a substantially radial portion 20 and a straightportion 22 substantially perpendicular to radial portion 20 and anarcuate portion 24 joining straight portion 22 with the main portion oflower wall 6 (FIG. 2). A horizontal wall 26 is integral with walls 20,22 and the main portion of lower wall 6. Walls 20, 22, 24 and 26 form arecess for the reception of a short discharge conduit 30 which isperpendicular to wall 20 and passes through wall 20 to be incommunication with the interior of the device 2 immediately above sump16 A flexible tube 34 has one end attached to conduit 30 by means of apressed fit and the other end provided with a smooth rounded nozzleindicated at 36 to facilitate entry into the rectum. A conventionalsideopening 38 in tube 34 adjacent the nozzle 36 is provided.

The position of conduit 30 is perpendicular to radial wall 20 to providefor a smooth transition for the tube 34 from the conduit 30 to lowerwall 6 on which tube 34 is coiled for storage to prevent kinking. It isimportant to eliminate kinking of the tube 34 as it transitions fromconduit 30 to the main portion of lower wall 6. The elimination ofkinking is readily accomplished by providing for a gradual transition ofsufficient length. While it has been found to be convenient to place theconduit substantially perpendicular to the radial wall, the anglebetween the radial wall and the conduit may be varied and indeed thewall in question need not be radial so long as the kinking is avoided inthe transition of the tube from the conduit to the main portion of thelower wall 6. Tube 34 is coiled upwardly on lower wall 6. The outer endof tube 34 is pressed behind an arcuate finger 42 which depends fromupper wall 4 and is spaced from lower wall 6 to releasably retain theouter end of tube 34 and prevent the tube from uncoiling. Two additionalarcuate fingers 44 and 46 depend from upper wall 4 to provide for thesecuring of tubes of different length.

A flange 50 extends outwardly from the top of upper wall 4 and hasintegral therewith outwardly extending tabs 52 and 54 which, in turn,are integral with a semicircular handle 56. Similarly tabs 60 and 62 areintegral with flange 50 and integral with semicircular handle 64.Desirably tabs 52, 54, 60 and 62 are sufficiently flexible to permithandles 56 and 64 to be pulled into a generally vertical position toform means for carrying the device 2.

Typically all of the device may be made of translucent or transparentplastic such as polyethylene, polypropylene or a vinyl resin such aspolyvinylchloride. Preferably the hose is made of polyvinylchloride.

For use of the device 2, the coils of tube 34 coiled onto lower wall 6are pulled off of lower wall 6 and the discharge end of tube 34 isreadily pulled free of finger 42. The device 2 is now ready for thenormal procedure of filling with warm water, mixing soap with the water,lubricating the discharge end of tube 34 and inserting it in the rectumto administer the enema. Discharge of liquid through tube 34 during thepreparatory steps is readily prevented either by holding the dischargeend above the top of the upper wall 4 or by applying a conventionaltubing clamp (not shown) on the tube-34.

As shown in FIG. 5, a package indicated at contains a plurality ofdevices 2 telescoped together. The lowestcoil of each tube 34 rests onwall 12 to limit the telescoping leaving the bottom 14 well spaced fromthe adjacent bottom 14 providing room for a soap packet 72 and alubricant packet 74 and insuring that these packets not be crushed.

It will be understood that the above described embodiment' is simply byway of illustration and is not intended to be limiting.

I claim:

1. A device for administering an enema comprising:

a bucket having a bottom, an upper wall, a connected lower wall of asmaller diameter than the upper wall, and a recess in the lower walladjacent the bottom,

a discharge conduit in said recess and in communication with theinterior of the bucket,

aflexible tube connected to said conduit and coiled about said lowerwall between the discharge conduit and the upper wall, and

means on one of said walls to releasably hold the outer end of the tubeto prevent the tube from uncoiling.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 having a sump in the bottomadjacent the discharge conduit.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1 in which the holding means is afinger depending from the upper wall and spaced from the lower wall.

4. A device in accordance with claim 1 having a substantially horizontalwall connecting the upper and lower walls.

5. A stack package comprising:

a plurality of stacked enema buckets telescoped one within the othereach having a bottom, a tapered upper wall, a tapered lower wall of asmaller diameter than the upper wall, a wall connecting the upper andlower walls, and an inwardly extending recess in the lower wall adjacentthe bottom,

a discharge conduit in said recess and in communication with theinterior of the bucket,

a flexible tube connected to said conduit and coiled about said lowerwall between the discharge conduit and the upper wall, and

means on one of said walls to releasably hold the outer end of the tubeto prevent the tube from uncoiling.

6. A stack package in accordance with claim 5 having the lowest coil ofeach tube resting on the connecting wall of the next adjacent bucket tolimit telescoping and keep adjacent bottoms spaced apart to form acompartment therebetween.

1. A device for administering an enema comprising: a bucket having abottom, an upper wall, a connected lower wall of a smaller diameter thanthe upper wall, and a recess in the lower wall adjacent the bottom, adischarge conduit in said recess and in communication with the interiorof the bucket, a flexible tube connected to said conduit and coiledabout said lower wall between the discharge conduit and the upper wall,and means on one of said walls to releasably hold the outer end of thetube to prevent the tube from uncoiling.
 2. A device in accordance withclaim 1 having a sump in the bottom adjacent the discharge conduit.
 3. Adevice in accordance with claim 1 in which the holding means is a fingerdepending from the upper wall and spaced from the lower wall.
 4. Adevice in accordance with claim 1 having a substantially horizontal wallconnecting the upper and lower walls.
 5. A stack package comprising: aplurality of stacked enema buckets telescoped one within the other eachhaving a bottom, a tapered upper wall, a tapered lower wall of a smallerdiameter than the upper wall, a wall connecting the upper and lowerwalls, and an inwardly extending recess in the lower wall adjacent thebottom, a discharge conduit in said recess and in communication with theinterior of the bucket, a flexible tube connected to said conduit andcoiled about said lower wall between the discharge conduit and the upperwall, and means on one of said walls to releasably hold the outer end ofthe tube to prevent the tube from uncoiling.
 6. A stack package inaccordance with claim 5 having the lowest coil of each tube resting onthe connecting wall of the next adjacent bucket to limit telescoping andkeep adjacent bottoms spaced apart to form a compartment therebetween.